Z Report: If I were Texans GM: Decisions on team free agents, restructuring and cap cuts

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Every year, I try and put my GM hat on and see things from the same vantage point that Rick Smith might be seeing things. Granted, Rick and I will probably have different opinions about things and he’ll certainly have more insight into certain aspects of the team than I will, but I’m still going to let you know what I would be thinking if I were in his shoes.

I’ll have “If I were the GM” posts each month and this month’s will cover my mindset for February.d

Free Agents on the Roster

The first thing that GM LZ has to decide is which one of these players I want to bring back. I’ll list the players in level of importance moving forward. Just because I prioritize a player higher on the list, that doesn’t mean he’s a lock for me to offer him. It simply means that my decision on that player is more important than a player lower on the list.

Tier 1

1. Glover Quin, S - Quin’s level of importance has vaulted to the top of the Texans’ free agent list in my opinion. Quin can play in the box or as a single-high safety (still needs work here though) and can cover in the slot as well as blitz. Quin is young and has high football character. He’s part of the core of the defense and should be the top priority in free agency. He may end up costing more than you expect.

2. Connor Barwin, OLB - Barwin is a very tough call. For one, what is his value? Barwin was terrific last year, but really struggled as a pass rusher this year and might be best-suited to play the SLB spot (tight end side). With Quin getting paid, Barwin will have to come at a reasonable price if I were going to bring him back. I would consider bringing him back, but it would have to be at the right price and with a contract that I could potentially get out of within a couple of years. If the Texans want to move Brooks Reed to ILB (which will take some work), but Barwin becomes a priority signing – at the right price. The Texans have the leverage in negotiations since they have Reed and Mercilus ready to roll.

3. James Casey, FB - I consider Casey a priority since he allows the Texans offense to be more varied and unpredictable. Casey has lined up outside, in the slot, at TE and at FB which means that Kubiak can use him to create matchup issues. However, as the GM, I would need to speak to coach Kubiak and find out what his plans are for Casey because he didn’t really utilize him to vary the offense as much as I expected and if he’s just going to be a pass-catching TE and average lead blocker, then I would have to let him go since that isn’t where his value lies.

4. Brice McCain, CB - Brice’s value became even more apparent when he was out and Brandon Harris took over. The Texans will have to make some tough decisions out of this group and it may not be possible for them to hang onto all four free agents. McCain is smallish, but he is definitely a sticky CB with speed and I know that he can be plugged back in as the nickel CB. If I end up letting Barwin or Casey go, it becomes more likely that McCain is back. While Quin and Casey have some leverage, I will have the leverage with McCain. If his agent is dead-set on a payday that is beyond what I’m willing to slot for him, then I’ll just make due with Harris and another CB I take in the draft.d

Tier 2

5. Shaun Cody, NT - Cody has played the NT much better than expected, but the fact is that he’s getting older and the team needs to head in another direction with Earl Mitchell and either Sonny Harris or another player manning the NT position.

6. Justin Forsett, RB - I love that Forsett has value as a kick returner and special teamer and he was solid as a RB3 that was pressed into RB2 action, but I can find a player like Forsett in the draft or when camp rolls around. I would tell Forsett that we would love to invite him into camp, but we can’t offer him at this time.

7. Ryan Harris, OT – As a backup, I liked what I saw from Harris last year relative to the expectations I had for him. I would need to get with my medical team and check up on what they think of him from a physical standpoint since he’s had injuries in the past. If his medicals check out, I would try and bring him back.

8. Donnie Jones, P - Jones was only 13th in the league in net punting average, but he was relatively steady and I feel like I can trust him. I would imagine that his side would be willing to get a deal done fairly quickly.

9. Rashad Butler, OT - While there is no question in my mind that I would have the leverage on Butler, he’s missed a lot of time during his career and he disappointed me in preseason last year. I’m willing to give him a small contract and let him try and earn a backup job in camp as the swing tackle, but I won’t give him much of a signing bonus and the deal will be one that allows me to cut with no money guaranteed other than the small signing bonus. There is still value with Butler because he can play both tackle spots and has NFL experience.

10. Tim Dobbins, ILB - Dobbins is a thumper against the run, but obviously not good enough in coverage. I would need to check with the staff and see how highly they rank him as a special teams player. I’m willing to bring him back as LB depth at the right price and at least get him into camp to compete for a spot.d

Tier 3

Shayne Graham, K - There is no need to sign Graham. He’s a veteran kicker without a big leg so he’ll probably be around by the time camp rolls around and he will be easy to bring into camp to compete with Randy Bullock at a later date. In all likelihood, a kicker with a better deep ball on kickoffs will be brought into camp to compete with Bullock, not Graham.

Alan Ball, CB - Ball isn’t as good as I would like with his cover skills but he’s a good special teams player and wouldn’t be a bad player to bring into camp. I’m not making an offer right now though.

Bradie James, ILB - James just can’t run anymore. He had trouble getting off of blocks. No reason to bring him back.

Antoine Caldwell, OG - Caldwell has some NFL starters experience, but it is obvious he isn’t going to be able to play ahead of Ben Jones or Brandon Brooks. Time for him to move on.

Quintin Demps, S - Demps didn’t step up when asked and was benched in place of Shiloh Keo. Eddie Pleasant is the likely replacement on the roster for Demps so Demps doesn’t get an offer.

Barrett Ruud, ILB - Ruud is a viable street free agent if we need him during the season, but he doesn’t fit in with the plans to get younger and better at ILB.d

* I would restructure Antonio Smith’s deal. I would look to convert $4.5 million of his salary this year into a signing bonus and give him a two-year extension past this season to help spread the new signing bonus over three years. Smith’s salary would now be $1.5M with $4M counting as signing bonus (includes old deal and new deal cap hit) and another $1M bonus he is owed. His cap figure would now be $6.5M and will have saved the team $3M in cap space this year.

* I would cut Kevin Walter. Walter’s cap figure is $3.5M right now from what I understand and while cutting Walter would leave the WR corps extremely thin, I would look to utilize Walter’s money and the restructured money from Antonio Smith to pursue a veteran WR either via free agency or through a trade.